Meet Cookie, the Oldest Parrot Who Ever Lived

Parrots inhabit tropical and subtropical areas around the world. These large, colorful birds are prized for their physical beauty, intelligence, and ability to mimic human speech. Compared to other species of birds, parrots are very long-lived. Yet, how old was the world’s oldest parrot? Keep reading to learn more about parrots and meet Cookie, the oldest parrot who ever lived.

What Types of Parrots Exist and Where Do They Live?

Parrot species vary in many ways, including looks, size, intelligence, and longevity. In fact, there are over 350 species in the Psittaciformes order.

There are three “superfamilies” that belong to the Psittaciformes order, including:

• Psittacoidea, also considered the “true parrots”
• Cacatuoidea, which includes cockatoos
• Strigopoidea, a small family of parrots indigenous to New Zealand

The Psittacoidea superfamily includes birds that look like what most people imagine parrots to look like, such as the blue and gold macaw. However, it is important to remember that not all parrots have the same level of intelligence or abilities. While some parrots can mimic human speech, others cannot.

Parrots have a wide range of habitats that include sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Australia. They typically live in rainforests and tropical jungles, where they feed on fruits, seeds, nuts, and insects.

Many people have parrots as pets, which has expanded their range. Zoos have also frequently bought and bred parrots for conservation and education. So, it is possible to see various types of parrots all over the world.

The Average Lifespan of Parrots

Overall, the average lifespan of a parrot ranges from 40 to 80 years. However, this figure includes all species, some of which have much shorter lifespans than others. The larger birds such as the macaw and cockatoo tend to live the longest. Macaws have an average lifespan of 50 years, but some species, such as the red macaw, are believed to live up to 75 years. Smaller birds like the sun conure can survive for 30 years or more.

Several factors contribute to a parrot’s lifespan. As with many animals that are not bred for food, parrots in captivity tend to live longer than wild birds. In some cases, like the African grey parrot, animals in captivity can live up to three times longer than in the wild.

Parrots kept as pets receive high-quality food, protection against predators, and live in controlled environments. These birds do not experience sudden changes in temperature or food scarcity, factors that can negatively affect their quality of life and shorten their lifespans.

How Old Is the Oldest Parrot Who Ever Lived?

According to Guinness World Records, the oldest parrot on record is Cookie, a Major Mitchell’s cockatoo that survived to the official age of 82 years and 88 days. Cookie lived his entire life at the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Illinois. However, his exact age was unknown when he arrived at the zoo. He was estimated to be at least one year old when the zoo recorded his arrival in May 1934.

He was assigned a hatch date of June 30, 1933, which would make him 83 years and 58 days old at the time of his death in 2016. However, because the exact date of his arrival was not recorded, his age is calculated from the last day of the month in which his arrival was documented. While other parrots may claim to be older, Cookie is the only parrot whose lifespan has been officially verified. As of 2026, Cookie is still recognized as the official record holder for the oldest parrot to ever live.